Woodbank Cricket Club has thanked the record crowd of people who helped Bonfire Night go off with a bang.
The night sky glowed brightly above the Brandlesholme club as a crowd of more than 4,000 people celebrated on Saturday.
The event, a highlight in the cricket club’s calendar, was so popular that tickets were sold out on the night.
The rain held off as families from Bury and surrounding areas came together around the roaring blaze, before watching a spectacular display, courtesy of Salford-based championship-winning firework display company Atom Fireworks, that drew cheers and applause.
The evening also included fairground rides and stalls, a tombola and tuck shop, as well as a bouncy castle and teddy tombola.
Representatives of Bury Hospice were also in attendance, challenging revellers to a buzzer game to raise funds.
The cricket club is a supporter of the hospice after volunteer, Nigel Hill, and members raised more than £5,000 in August by walking 20 laps of the pitch.
Read more: PHOTOS: Woodbank Cricket Club's emotional walk of solidarity
Club chairman Martyn Ward said he was overwhelmed with the response from the community. He apologised to anyone unable to attend due to the event being a sell-out, but said the safety of the event had to be maintained.
He said: “Bonfire Night is always a highlight for the club and our 2022 event was no exception.
“We’d like to thank everyone who came out to support us on Saturday night and helped make our bonfire night such a success.
"We welcomed record crowds through the gates and it was fantastic to see so many people enjoying themselves.”
Martyn also thanked the army of volunteers who spent weeks leading up to the event, Friday night and most of Saturday setting the stage for bonfire night.
He added: “We simply could not hold events of this standard without our incredible team who work tirelessly behind the scenes.
Read more: Woodbank freeze firework ticket prices amid cost-of-living
“Woodbank is a brilliant club to be a part of and we’d love to see more people getting involved, whether through joining our junior and senior teams, attending our matches or supporting any of the events we hold throughout the year.”
Looking ahead, the club is hoping to have more local charities at the event next year to assist them in raising funds.
Read more: Woodbank stage 'Her Game Too' match
Due to not having any major sponsors, the club uses events like these to raise funds, to spend on equipment and facilities to support the junior and senior sections, as well as community events.
Read more:
- Bury Market stall to close as owner seeks new buyer
- Thousands of Remembrance poppies displayed in Radcliffe
- 'Bury's Banksy' creates brilliant postbox toppers in time for Remembrance Day
If you have a story tweet @BuryTimes or @Heywoodharriet_ or email Harriet.Heywood@newsquest.co.uk.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here